Category: Travel Tips

Six Things to Splurge On During Your Cruise

1/8/2018

I give the Ryde spin class a try during my trip on Carnival Vista. Certain fitness classes come with a fee.

By John Roberts

My default setting is "frugal."

You'll rarely see me shelling out for many extras on a cruise. But I have discovered a few things that are worth digging into your pockets for on a cruise vacation. Some of these things you might not want on every trip, but I have often added these goodies and extras because they make sense and can make a good cruise even better.

Check out this list of "Six Cruise Essentials Not Included in Your Cruise Fare."

Shore Excursions

This is the best way to explore a new destination. You have to get off the ship to have fun and experience the culture of a country or region. That's why we travel, right? I usually look for something active like a snorkel outing on a catamaran that includes lunch and drinks. We also seek out hiking adventures and zipline outings. (Excursions that include several of these in one package are the best!) You also can find historic city walking tours or shopping excursions at most cruise ports. We've explored castles and palaces and savored beers and wines of different regions.

I am big on booking a shore excursion independently (search online for your excursions and book directly). You can usually save a lot of money and have a more intimate experience with a smaller group. But booking through the cruise ship is a good option, too, because you can be assured that the ship won't leave if you don't get back in time at the end of the day in port.

Spa Treatments

These can be pricy -- but we are talking about a splurge on your holiday. It can be so relaxing to treat yourself to a massage or facial at the ship's spa. The facilities also might include a sauna, steam room and other amenities to enjoy as long as you have booked a treatment. I don't get massages during my daily life on land, but I try to treat myself to a rejuvenating treatment when on a ship.

It's a wonderful way to refresh after several days playing in the hot sun or hiking and biking on your excursions. Try to book a treatment when in port for the best deals.

Spa Day Pass

OK, maybe you don't want a massage or any other treatment. You just want that quiet time in the spa. Day passes and passes that get you cruise-long access into the ship's spa facilities can be awesome. In the spa, you get away from the crowds on the lido deck so you can enjoy the serenity of a facility that includes things like fruit-infused waters, comfy loungers, heated ceramic loungers, hot tubs, sauna and steam rooms and thalassotherapy pools. Once you've done this once, you'll never want to cruise again without having access to the spa.

Specialty Dining

It's become a well-known fact that the best food on the mass-market cruise ships is now in the specialty restaurants. Make a reservation at a for-fee eatery if you are celebrating a birthday or anniversary or just want a romantic night out for a great meal away from your tablemates in the main dining room. You'll find all sorts of fine cuisine featured in the specialty restaurants at sea. There are steakhouses and Asian-fusion, Italian, seafood and French eateries. You'll pay from $30 to $50 a person extra to eat at these spots, but the meals can be one of the most memorable experiences of your trip -- especially if food is your thing.

Fitness Class

The fitness centers on the ships are free to use, and many of them have everything you would find at your gym back home. This allows you to get in your daily workouts and easily stick to your fitness regimen while on your cruise.

Additionally, the gyms on the cruise ships are good spots to try new types of workouts or to make those first steps toward beginning a workout program. Personal training is available to help you overcome any apprehension about going to the gym. Even fitness buffs can try something new, with offerings like kickboxing, spin classes, Pilates, yoga and TRX suspension training. I tried a Ryde spin-style class on Carnival Vista.

The cruise ship gym is the ideal relaxed and non-threatening environment to have fun and try something new. Plus, you have a week or more of leisure time to schedule a few sessions without the worry of your work and other life obligations derailing your plans.

Beverage Package

Yes, the all-you-can-drink packages can be a convenience for all of us beer and wine drinkers who like toss them back regularly on vacation. But I'm talking about at least snagging the much more affordable soda and water package. This is a good deal if you plan to enjoy a couple sodas a day (our vice is Diet Coke) and also want cold bottled waters. We grab a few bottles to head ashore and know we will always be hydrated, which is a good choice, especially in the Caribbean heat.

Yes, this is mainly a convenience item, and you could refill your own water bottles on the ship at the public fountains. But the soda/fresh water combo package is nice, and we think tastes a bit better overall.
What types of things do you have no problem splurging on for your cruise? Let us know in the comments.

Also read: Nine Essential Tips and Tricks for First-Time Cruisers

Thanks for reading, and happy travels!
JR

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I Survived a Ride on Megabus -- and You Can, Too!

11/21/2017

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Megabus runs routes between major cities all over the U.S. Check online for schedules and fares for your trip.

By John Roberts

I was visiting Miami for a few days, so I figured I should go ahead and make a side trip to Orlando to visit my brother, as well. After all, I was in no rush to get back to New Jersey in mid-November. Yes, I do prefer days of endless sunshine to gray skies and bitter cold!

But how to get cover the distance. A flight? Too expensive. Rent a car? Ditto.

Bart had told me about his experiences using a bus service to get around the state. Megabus features routes from Orlando to Miami and back (with stops in Tampa and Fort Lauderdale), and the fares can be incredibly cheap.

Megabus sometimes runs promotions and sells seats for as low as $1. The earlier you book your fare, the best chance you have to snag the lower fares: $1 and $9 seats, for example. I booked a week out from my trip and paid $25.50 ($23 plus a $2.50 admin fee). Still, not too bad to get from Miami to Orlando, a 4.5-hour hour ride.

People line up to wait for the bus and to be able to get a preferred seat.

The Bus

It's a double-decker, with seats on the lower level from the middle to the front of the bus. The upper deck has seats all the way from front to back, and any movement of the bus swaying will be more noticeable up there. A bathroom is in the middle of first level right next to the steps that lead up to the top. The space at the back of the bus on Level 1 is used for luggage.

Seats are soft, so the ride was fairly comfortable. I found it a bit tight, though, as I am 6-foot-4, the bus was full, and I had a seat mate in my row. The seats recline, and the bus I was on had no tray tables. There are a few quad seat groupings that share a table area between them. Outlets to charge your devices are located in several spots on the ceiling throughout the bus and in between each seat near your knees.

The rides offer free Wi-Fi, but as my driver said "If it works, it works. If it doesn't, it doesn't."

OK. Fair enough.

The Ride

You can book online at US.Megabus.com. The confirmation and ticket is sent by email.

I clicked on the ticket link that I received in my email and took a screen shot of by reservation in case I lost my Internet connection at the bus terminal. You simply show up to the bus waiting area ahead of your scheduled departure. I arrived a half-hour early at the Intermodal Center at Miami International Airport and joined the line that was already forming at the Megabus area (the center services other buses, such as Greyhound). You can pay more to reserve a particular seat, but people typically just pick whatever is available.

When the bus arrives, the driver checks for your reservation, has you place your luggage to be stowed in a neat lineup and tells you to go ahead and get onboard the bus. The driver then stows the bags, hops on the bus and takes off. Our driver gave us a quick overview of the trip, pointed out the restroom area and the features of the bus (mainly just the outlets and sketchy Wi-Fi) and then the bus was mostly silent as we completed our journey to Orlando.

Seats are soft, but a tight fit for me. As you can see, I settled in for a ride in solitude. Netflix kept me occupied as the miles and hours passed.

Good to Know
The Wi-Fi on my ride was not working well, and from what I could hear from others, they had little luck. I have a good data plan so I didn't need it anyways. If you want to use a laptop to get work done while riding the Megabus, you should make sure you can provide your own data. I downloaded some Netflix shows to my phone and just watched them during the ride, which helped the time pass nicely.

Pack plenty of water or other drinks to keep hydrated, as well as a few snacks. This is essential if you are on a nearly five-hour ride.

My trip was blissfully uneventful. I have heard that you often encounter unique characters on these trips, but everyone I rode with was respectful, quiet and polite. At least on the first level where I was seated. (Who knows what kind of party was going on upstairs?)

I hope this helps if you are considering using Megabus.
Thanks for reading, and always travel happy!
JR

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Don't Hit the Road Without Knowing these 21 Quirky Travel Hacks

9/6/2017

6 Comments

Give your oldest pair of sneakers one last use on an active adventure, then toss them before you head home.

By John Roberts

At In The Loop Travel, we are always on the search for new ways to add comfort, save money and secure our health when we travel. We continuously discover -- or invent -- new tips and tricks for how to travel smarter and better. These travel hacks might come from trial and error, a jolt of common-sense inspiration or by chatting with fellow travelers who have some cool ideas.

Here is our list of 21 unique travel hacks that can help you travel like a boss. Please, please, please help us out and add some of your own tried-and-true methods in the comments below.

OK, let's get to the list! . . .

These items can can improve your travel experience ... really!

Drop Zone -- We travel a lot, and we also seem to be ordering more and more of our "stuff" online through Amazon, for example. It just makes sense to get these deliveries at our workplace. If it's allowed, set up your workplace as the delivery address for your online orders. That way your new goodies will never sit out on your porch or in front of your apartment building when you are traveling out of the country for the week.

Digital Copies -- Make digital copies of your important documents like passports, driver's licenses, visas, itineraries, contact info and any other items that you would be a big hassle if you lost them. Many of these items won't stand as replacements for the originals but having the copies can expedite the process of getting a new passport, for example. Take picture with your cellphone or upload images to a secure cloud service like Dropbox.

Bag it Up -- Ziploc baggies can be among the most-versatile things to pack. Use them to pack up an extra snack for the road from a hotel buffet. Keep your cellphone or other items dry when you are out hiking in the rain. Or put the hotel room TV remote into a Ziploc as soon as you arrive. Grab a handful of the resealable bags because you never know what you might use them for. The remotes at hotels or Airbnb accommodations are gross germ farms. Ewwww! At hotels, an easy fix also is to wrap it in a shower cap that is often provided in your room's bathroom as part of a toiletries kit.

Backup Plan -- If you made arrangements for a stay at a place you reserved on Airbnb, VRBO.com or even a hotel and motel, research at least one more spot that can be your fallback if the hotel or other service screws up your reservation or doesn't give you a room that meets your satisfaction. We have heard of people arriving at their Airbnb to find it dirty or have some other aspect of the plan fall apart. Have a backup Airbnb place you can quickly book or use an app such as Hotel Tonight to secure your accommodations in a pinch.

It's Showtime -- Load up your phone or tablet with downloadable entertainment from Netflix or Amazon (the services offer downloadable content that you can watch offline). Having a batch of shows and movies is perfect for downtime in airports or on planes and trains and also a great way to unwind in your cabin or hotel at the end of the day if you're in a place with no Wi-Fi connectivity.

Airline Apps -- Similarly, make sure that you know what entertainment system your flight will have (if any). Some airlines use planes with no TV screens and require you to have their app to view entertainment options once you air in flight.

Lounge Around -- If you get a limited number of airline lounge passes -- maybe from a rewards credit card -- you probably will hold on to them and wait to get the best use out of them. I get one lounge pass a year from United for having a United Mileage Plus credit card, and I won't use it unless I have a layover of at least five hours at an airport. The tip here, though, is to always carry these passes because you never know when travel disruptions might leave you stranded at an airport. I have left mine at home and regretted not having it for just such a case.

Power Play -- Get a power block (picture at top) to charge your phone and other devices. These come with multiple ports to charge several items at once, and they are much more powerful, with a longer lasting charge that quickly recharges your stuff. They are not much larger than a big cellphone and work infinitely better than the charging sticks that charge one device at a time. I use the EC Technology Power Bank that costs around $25 to $30.

Volunteers Needed -- Many flights are overbooked. If you keep your travel schedule flexible, you can get great benefits by volunteering to be bumped. Arrive to a gate early, check with an agent about whether there is a possibility they will need volunteers, and plant yourself close to the desk so you're ready when they make the call. You get booked on a later flight (sometimes just a few hours later) and likely can get between $400 and $1,000 in airfare vouchers and even meal vouchers and a hotel stay (depending on when your new flight is scheduled).

Welcome Home -- I know most people like to squeeze out every possible moment from their vacations, but consider planning to come home a day early, if possible. That means flying back on a Saturday instead of Sunday, for example. This way, you get a full day back home to do the laundry, grocery shopping and ease back into reality instead of dropping your bags, going to sleep and getting up on a Monday to go back to work. Leaving an extra day on your weekend when returning means you can afford to volunteer to be bumped (and getting all those perks) or won't be faced with an overly stressful crisis (having to miss a day of work, getting the kids back to school, etc.) if weather or a mechanical issue puts your flight off for a day.

Anywhere in the World -- Let's stick with the notion that you are a flexible adventurer. If your bucket list is limitless, perhaps you might like the idea of planning your vacation in reverse. Search for the cheapest flights to any number of destinations that interest you. Can you travel at a moment's notice? Pick a location, a flight, a date. Then, pack your bags and go! You could save thousands on trips.

Cash Stash -- I carry a backpack as one of my luggage. In one of the pockets, I have a 20 British pounds note and a 20 euros note. This is my emergency money in case I need it in a pinch. I use credit cards whenever I can (get one that has no foreign transaction fees), and I also bring some cash in a wallet, but my secret stash is for emergencies -- maybe I need a taxi ride and am out of other funds, for example.

Lost and Found -- Put a label on your devices -- e-reader, tablets, cellphones, computers, etc. -- with your name, contact info and address. If you forget one of these items anywhere along the way -- the main culprit is in the seat pocket on a plane (don't ever use the seat pocket of a plane!) -- you have a better chance of your lost item making its way back to you.

Luggage Limbo -- Place a business card or a sheet of paper with your name, phone number and address on it inside of your suitcase or backpacks in case any luggage tags are torn off during transit. This helps if your bags are lost or delayed by the handling service. Or if another traveler unwittingly grabs your bag off the carousel.

Clean and Comfy -- Bring a pair of travel socks for your long-haul flights. You can slip off your shoes and keep your feet warm and comfortable onboard the plane. When your trip is done, slip off the socks and toss them (Because, airplane floors. Yuck!).

Bubbly Quenchers -- When ordering bottled water in less-developed parts of the world, go with the fizzy stuff (picture at top). The sparkling water with "gas" or bubbles is much more difficult to counterfeit. This means you are not going to get local tap water in your bottle (yes, this happens), which can make you sick.

Fresh Laundry -- Bring along fragrant dryer sheets and a clean bag to segment your suitcase when you repack your clothes for the trip home. Because you have packed efficiently (right?), you will have maybe only a few items of clean clothes left. Keep those in the clean bag, away from your dirty, stinky clothes. Place a couple nice-smelling dryer sheets on top of your packed dirty clothes and then lay your clean clothes bag on top.

Screen Time -- You know how you had that boarding pass loaded on your app or browser and then it disappeared when you lost connectivity at the airport just as you were approaching the agent in the security line? Take a screen shot of the boarding pass on your phone, and this will never be a problem again. You can just retrieve the image from your phone's picture gallery and not worry when you lose Internet connectivity.

Roll It Out -- Cut a small section of a pool noodle (picture at top) and bring it along to use for lumbar support on your flights. Your back will thank you. You can also use the piece of foam as a roller for exercising the bottoms of sore feet or massaging any other tired muscles.

Save Your Memories -- Offload pictures and video from your cameras at the end of each day. Use a portable drive or your laptop to store and organize the days of your trip. This helps you stay on top of documenting your travels so it's not an unwieldy task when you return home. More importantly, you are backing up your images in case your memory card is lost or damaged. That way, only one day's worth of images are lost, not the entire trip.

Sneaker Toss -- Going on an active adventure, maybe with hiking in dirt and mud, or daily bike rides (maybe in the rain)? You probably will be working out at the hotel gym or getting in a run outside a couple times. Bring a pair of old sneakers -- the ones that are on their last legs -- and give them one last hurrah. I have used a pair of old sneakers on my more active outdoor trips and simply tossed them out at the end (picture at top of this post). This keeps stinky shoes away from my luggage and clears up the space needed for a couple souvenirs. (I reclaim more space than most when I do this because of my size 12 feet.)

What do you think? Used any of these tips? Have more to add? Let us know.
Thanks for reading,
JR

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Six Things to Splurge On During Your Cruise

I Survived a Ride on Megabus -- and You Can, Too!

Don't Hit the Road Without Knowing these 21 Quirky Travel Hacks

These items can can improve your travel experience ... really!

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